Pubdate: Tue, 07 Oct 2003 Source: Charleston Daily Mail (WV) Copyright: 2003 Charleston Daily Mail Contact: http://www.dailymail.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/76 Author: Felicia Roberts, Daily Mail Staff DUNBAR OFFICIALS DISCUSS DRUG ACTIVITY Members of the Dunbar community say they are concerned about what they see as an increase in drug activity. Former city resident James Shook told members of city council at its Monday night meeting that he has been in town visiting with his elderly grandfather who lives in the neighborhood of 13th Street and Grosscup Avenue. Shook said the area is a "free for all." Shook says he has been approached several times by drug dealers offering to sell him drugs. He said he is concerned for his grandfather and other elderly members of the community. Shook attended the meeting as an invited guest speaker by council member Dana Hayes. "I feel safer in my neighborhood in New York City than I do here, and that's the truth," Shook said. "You're over-dramatizing. Dunbar is heck of a lot safer," said council member John Coleman. Coleman said that there are things being done about drug activity, but he would not explain them because the actions are ongoing. He and other council members urged Dunbar residents to call the police if they see any suspicious activity. Dunbar police have been working with the Kanawha County Sheriff's office and the Drug Enforcement Administration to try to control the growing drug problem, Police Chief Terry Coleman said. The only way to succeed is for the community and the police to work together, Terry Coleman said. "The community must get involved. We cannot watch every house every minute, but we can respond," Terry Coleman said. He said the city works in the community through Crime Watch, School Resource Officer, and Victims Advocate programs, he said. Terry Coleman reports that crime in the Dutch Hollow area has decreased 80 percent since the implementation of the Reach Out program. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin